Wood-splitting machine.



, L. S. TAYLOR. WOOD SPLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MARLZB, 19l8.

Patented Sept. 10; 1918.

0.. WASHINGTWN, n. z.

WOOD-SPLITTING MACHINE.

Application filed March 28, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE S. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nacogdoches, in the. county of Nacogdoches and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wood- Splitting Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which "it appertains to make and use the same.

i This invention relates to wood splitting machines, and especially to certain improvements on the machine which constitutes the subject matter of Patent No. 800,512 issued to me on September 26, 1905.

One object of the invention is to provide means whereby the billet or stick of wood to be split is positioned in the path of the maul or hammer after it had been placed on the splitting blade or blades preparatory to being moved into the path of the hammer.

Another object of the invention is to provide for effectually preventing rebounding or retrograde movement of the billet carrler.

Other objects and advantages may become apparent to persons who read the followlng details of construction in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmental vertical sectional view showing the billet carrier in position for receiving the billet;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental vertical section showing the billet carrier in position to hold the billet in the path of the striker or hammer;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, parts being broken away. so as to show other parts more clearly; and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partly in section and partly broken away.

Referring to these. drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views, the parts that are shown in the drawings but not bearinga reference character are substantially the same as described in my patent previously referred to, while other parts are referred to by letters of the alphabet merely for the sake of definitely showing the relation of parts that constitute the subject matter of this invention.

Upon the frame structure A is supported a rotor or drum E which carries a maul or v Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 225,296.

hammer F. The rotor may be rotated by any appropriate means in thedirection of the arrow thereon, and in thus rotating,the hammer F is moved downward in the direction of the splitting blade or blades S so as to press abillet of wood upon the blades with suflicient force to split said billet. However, it is desirable to first place the billet in the preparatory position shown in Fig. 1, so as to avoid accidents which might occur if the hammer F should strike the billet while being placed on the blades. Moreover, it is desirable that the billet be moved from its preparatory position (see Fig. 1) to its final position (see Fig. 2), and that suchmovement be effected automatically by the rotation of the rotor E. For accomplishing this result, I provide the rotor with a lug or cam 5, and I provide the carrier 0 with a rod 6' which is slidable longitudinally through an opening or tangential bore 6. The rod 6 is preferably formed of spring steel-and is primarily slightly curved, and is forced into the rectilinear opening 6', so that the surface around said opening frictionally engages the lateral sidesof the rod6 so as to yieldingly retain the rod in any position to which it may be set. However, by tapping the rod with a hammer or mallet on its upper end, it may be instantly thrust downwardinto the path of the cam 5, which latter will strike the lower end of the rod 6 and cooperate therewith for rocking the carrier 0 upon the track provided therefor. It will be understood from said prior patent that means are provided for preventing the carrier 0 from sliding on the track while rocking on the latter; and it will also be understood that the bar or stop V cooper ates with the carrier 0 for supporting the blades S andv T in the position for supporting the billet in the path of the hammer F. However, it has been ascertained that-there is a tendency for the blades to rebound afterstriking the anvil V, and in order to offset such tendency, I provide means for detaining the carrier 0 in its preparatoryposition and also in its operative position, such means being now described in detail as follows:

A segmental detaining element 7 is secured on the carrier 0 by appropriate means, as shown at 8,.and this member 7 is provided with an upper depression 9, a lower depression 10 and a groove 11 connecting these depressions. A pawl or second detaining element 12 is provided with a lug 13 Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

which fits interchangeably in the depressions 9 and 10 and is adapted to slide through the groove 11. The member 12 is pivotally mounted at 14 upon a bracket 15, and a spring 16 connects the bracket with the pawl- 12. It will be seen, therefore, that'the detaining elements 7 and 12 coeperate to hold the carrier'alternately in its preparatory ed-to exert suflicijent force to drive the billet against the blades S and T with sufficient, pressure to split the billet, as set forth in the said prior patent. The carrier 0 is disposed-as shown in Fig. 1, and the billet vpositioned preparatory to being moved into the path of the hammer, and the. rod 6 is out of the way of the cam 5; the operator now taps the rod 6 .on its upper end and drives it downwardly into the path of the cam 5, whereupon the cam strikes the rod '6 and rocks the carriage 0 into the position illustrated in Fig. 2. In order to thus rock the carriage O, the lug 13 and depression 9 are of such shape that the carrier is only yieldingly detained thereby; or, in other words, the elements 9 and 13 are yieldingly engaged with'one another, so that a forward pressure on the top of the carriage 9 will cause the disengagement of these detaining elements and allow the carrier 0 to rock forward into its operative position. Therefore, when-the billet is dropped upon the splitting blade or blades, the handle W maybe grasped for offsettingthe tendency of the billet to move the carriage forward, and this handle may also be grasped for returning the carriage to its inward or preparatory position. 7

By the improvements set forth in the foregoing, it will be seen that I obtain the maxi mum efliciency by assuring thatthe billet is set to receive the full efie'ctof the hammers stroke at each operation; whereas, the billet has previously been positioned entirely by manual .movement ofthe carrier O,-and in thus moving the carrier, it was found that the hammer sometimes only struck theedge of thebillet, not exerting sufficient forceto cause the splitting thereof, butcausing the hammer to be checked by the billet, and thus necessitating a very considerable loss of time in reversing movement of the rotor, removing the billet and replacing it in a different position. It will be seen, therefore, that I have invented improvements of very con- I I slderable,1mportance,-and 1t-1s believed that such improvements will result in the great commercial success of this form of wood splitting machine.

Although I have described this embodiment of my invention in minute detail, it is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to these exact details of construction and arrangement of parts but I am entitled to make such minor changes that do not constitute a departure from the appended claims.

I claim: l. In a spllttlng' machine, the combinatlon of a hammer, means for moving said'h ammer downward in a predetermined path'for striking a billet,-,a blade supporting at least" in part said billet and movable therewith into and out of the path of said hammer,

and means operated the first named means r for soinoving said blade, substantially as specified. I p

2. In a splitting'machine, the combination of a hammer, means for moving said hamm'er downward in a predetermined path for striking the billet, a blade supporting at least in'part said" billet, and movable therewith into and out of thepath of said ham-.

mer, and means carried by the firstnained means for so moving said blade.

3. In a splitting machine, the combination v of a hammer, means for moving said hammer downward in a predetermined path for strikinga billet, a blade supporting at leastin part said billetand movable therewith into and out of the path of said hammer, and means for preventing retrograde movement of the said blade from its position in which it supports the billet in the path of the hammer, the function of the lastnamed means being irrespective of the operation .of the first namedmeans.v

4.. In a splitting machine, the combination of a hammer, means for moving'said hammer along'a predetermined path, a blade, a carrier coeperative with said blade for receiving a billet and supportin'g the latter in its preparatory position out of the path of said hammer, means supported by said carrier and coeperative with the-first said means for moving the billet from its preparatory position into its final position irithe path of I said hammer, and detaining means for holding the said carrier alternately in thepositions' for supporting the billet in said preparatory position and'in said finalposition these functions of the last named means be ing irrespective of the operation ofthe first means carried by said rockingcarrier and coeperative with said cam for rocking said carrier soas to bring the billet into the path of said hammer.

6. In combination, a rotor, a hammer and a cam carried thereby, a rocking carrier, a

blade carried by the carrier and cooperative therewith to receive a billet in a preparatory position out of the path of said hammer, and means carried by said rocking carrier and movable with relation to the latter into cooperation With said cam for effecting such rocking movement of said carrier as to move the billet into the path of said hammer.

7. In combination, a rotor, a hammer and a cam carried thereby, a rocking carrier, a blade carried by the carrier and cooperative therewith to receive a billet in a preparatory position out of the path of said hammer, and

a rod carried by said rocking carrier and yieldingly detained against movement relative to the latter but movable longitudinally into such cooperative relation with said cam as to effect a rocking movement of said carrier and thereby move the billet into the path of said hammer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAWRENCE S. TAYLOR. Witnesses F. D. HUsToN, W. Y. HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patd eta. Washington, D. G. 

